Brake operating mechanism



Feb. 16, 1943. A. F. KLASING ,31

BRAKE OPERATING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 1; 1942 BRAKE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed June 1, 1942 4She,ets-Sheet 2 Feb. 16, 1943. A. F. KLASING BRAKE OPERATING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet a Filed June 1, 1942 I 'Feb. 16, 1943. .A. F. KLA-SING BRAKE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed June 1, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 oi the car.

Patented Feb. 16, 1943 v UNITED STATES 'PATE I martia -warme Nr orrrca Augustus r. mam Joliet. m. Application June .1, 1942, Serial Nt. 445,262

. 19 mm (01. 'uso5) acting thru suitable speed reducing to employ pawl and ratchet means for holding] the brakes applied or set, ually operable. However; in operation of the brake wheel in applying the brakes the pawl rides over the teeth of the ratchet, andin the course of time said teeth become womand the holding efl'ect is lessened oreven destroyed.

An essential object of my invention is to overcome such defect and to provide an equivalent for, and an improvement over, the usual pawl and ratchet means, and in a term in which no appreciable wear will take place thru a long period of time, at least as long a time as the life This I accomplish by, providing, in lieu of'the usual ratchet wheel, a wheel wherein the periphery is composed of a series of shallow depressions and the elevations between the depressions consist of blunt, gradually rounded elethe pawl being manmy prior application for Q substantially on linevations, instead of the usual sharp ended ratchet teeth; and co-operating with this'novel form of ratchet wheel is a sliding, tangentially moving holding-pawl or detent including a rounded stop element which ispreferably in the form of a roller. By this arrangement and construction the area in engagement between the surfaces of e the rotating wheel and the tangentially movingdash lines.) V 1 Fig. 5 is an elevation showing thereleaselever pawl member are largely in rolling contactyand since the projecting portions'in lieu of teeth on the rotating wheel are blunt and rounded, no substantial or damaging wear will take place.

.Fln-thermore, in the operation of such brake mechanism, particularly in spotting cars, it is customary for the brakeman to slack ofl the brakes without allowing the brake chain to unwind completely. In the known prior mechanisms, theeflect of re-engaging the pawl with the spinning wheel produces a relatively great shock resulting in possible damage 'or breakage unless the parts are made oi. otherwise unnecessarily large size and weight. Whereas, in my mechanism I have provided a .novel dampening or retarding pawl in the form of a pawl member adapted, to be either heldfree from the ratchet means, taken on line 1-3 in I Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional vew,,taken on line 6'6 of Fig.2, showing U the operating 'parts constituting the lease the brake one notch at a time, andwithout any shock to the mechanism. This retarding pawl and mechanism is moreover so arranged that-by regulating-the pressure manually on the brake releasing lever the novel retarding pawl can be either pressed. lightly or forced heavily against theratchet wheel and into its depressions, so as to retard only slightly the releasing of the applied brakes, or likewise to strongly retard the same and even positively halt the, brake releasing action. a

This application is a continuation-impart of patent for-'Brakefoperating mechanism, Serial No; 380,133','flled Febru- 8.1? 24, 1941, and includes the subject matter thereof. 1

In the'drawings: Fig. 1 is a front elevation of I mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention. a

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof, taken 2+2 OfFlg. 1.' .Fiig. 3 is a sectional. view of Parts in locked position.

Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing the parts in released position, with the retarding pawl held against the ratchet wheel. (In Figs. 3 and 4 the operating handle would not appear, sinceit is on the outside oi the housing, as shown in Fig 7 4 broken and in dot and'-- 5; and it is thus shown as its proper relation outside oithe housing.

the grease pockets for shaft. Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are 7 control-'mechanism.-- Fig. 11 is a front elevation cl a slightly modified form of brake operating mechanism constructed in accordance'with'rhy invention-.

Fig. 12 is a side elevationthereof.

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectionalview thereof, takenonline 13-13 oiFig. 11. I

F18. 14 is a sectional vievfl-taken on line ll-ll oi Fig. 13, showing the holding pawlin locked v position. v I v Fig. 15 is a similar view, butshowing the holdentered into thedepres- I at his pleasure, re-

brake operating the operating of Fig. 2 7 showing the 'perspectiveviewsof the I line "-41 of Fig. 14, showing her for operating it manually,

' and protected within an upper (In these Figs. 14, and 16 the operating lever would not appear, since itis outside of the housing, as indicated in Fig. 5; and it is therefore shown broken and in dot-and-dash lines.)

Fig. 17 is an enlarged sectional view, taken on means and the operating lever.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the slidable holding pawl.

Fig. 19 is an elevational view of the oscillating operating member or arm having at one end the retarding pawl and at the opposite end the finger for operating the holding pawl.

Fig. 20 is a part plan and part sectional view,

I taken on line 29-26 of Fig. 19.

Referring to the drawings it will be seen that my brake operating means or unit, in the form illustrated. in Figs. 1 to 10, inclusive, comprises a plate l5 having rivet holes l6 by means .of which the mechanism is secured to the car end. The housing for the operating mechanism, indicated generally by the numeral l1, interflts with plate [5 at its upper end and is provided with suitable earsl9. Rivets l9 serve as means of attachment of the housing H to the plate. Said housing and the plate provide bearings for a shaft 20 which carries the chain-worm 2| and the gear 22; and said gear meshes with a pinion 23 fast on a shaft 24 which carries on the outer end the memas the hand brake wheel 25. Also secured on this shaft 24 is my improved ratchet wheel 26 which is provided with pocket 44 for the slidable pawl pocket 43 is provided for roller 42 and a grease the roller 4|; while the ends of said rollers slide alongside ribs 45 formed on the inner walls of the housing, thus preventing escape of the rollers laterally of the sliding pawl and confining them in the housing. Similar side ribs 46 in the housing serve to guide this sliding pawl in its movement.

The means for operating the sliding pawl or detent 49 comprises an arm 41, best shown in Fig. 8, including an elongated body of metal, from one end of which extends a central projection or finger 48 which engages within a recess 49 formed in the sliding pawl. In lifting the pawl for retracting it from its holding position, shown in Fig. 3, this projection 46 contacts and rolls on the roller 42, thus reducing the frictional resistance. The body part of said arm 41 contains a transverse opening 50 having a keyway 5| therein; and the portion beyond said opening, opposite the finger 49, terminates in a cam projection 62 for engagement with a dampening or retarding pawl 63, best shown in Fig. 10. This pawl 63 is mounted on a shaft 64 extending thru the upper portion blunt, gradually rounded projections 26' around s" beternal annular recess 39 for grease, the grease being supplied to the shaft thru a bushing 3| by means of openings 32, 93 in the respective parts. Said pocket member 29 is provided with peripheral projections 34 engaging with suitable recesses 35 in the housing to form a breech block connection; and said member is held in the proper locked position by means of a rivet 36 passing thru an opening in registering ears 31 in the member and the housing.

a The bushing. is locked in place b bending outwardly the inner end portions 39 into suitable notches formed in said'member 29, as shown in Fig. 2.

The operating and control mechanism is housed portion 39 of the a side wall is arranged to housing [1, wherein 39'. .The mechanism comprovide a slideway prises a' tangentially sliding pawl or detent 46,

best shown in Fig. 7, operating on said slideway. and the pawl contains a hardened steel roller 4i, for engaging with the depressions 26" in the ratche wheel, said pawl thus providing the lockdetentfor securely retaining or holdingpawl or place; and said pawl also ing the ratchet wheel in contains a roller 42 for engagement by an operating finger of the manual release means. A grease in Figs. 2 and 6. Said member 29 is circular in outline and has an-in- 39 of the housing, and is adapted to ride on the ratchet wheel without action.

The pawl operating means or arm 41 is mounted on a shaft having a fixed key 66 thereon for engagement with the keyway 6| in said arm, the shaft having a bearing in the side walls of the housing portion 39. At one end of this shaft 66. and located outside of said housing portion 29, is a head consisting chiefly of two ears 5! and 66, the ends of the space or recess between these ears providing two abutments 69 and 66. An operating lever or handle bar 6|, provided with a weighted head 62, is mounted between said ears on a pivot 63 positioned in openings 64 in the ears. The two opposite sides of this lever, adj acent pivot 63, are adapted to alternately contact the abutments 59 and 69, as best shown in Fig. 5. -The lever is thus free to be oscillated thru nearly 180 degrees; and this freedom of oscillation enables the lever to unseat the holding pawl 40 readily from its engagement with the ratchet wheel 26, and altho the parts are in wedging relation but little force is necessary for disengaging said holding pawl. This serves to provide a trip release.

The dismantling of the structure is simple, involving merely the removal of the rivet or bolt 36, then rotating the grease pocket 29 into the disengaging position, whereupon the hand wheel,

wheel shaft, ratchet wheel and pinion may be removed as a unit. For reassembly, the operation is reversed except that the holding pawl ordetent and the dampening pawl must be held in an elevated position while the described parts are slid into place.

In Figs. 11 to 20, inclusive, my invention in a slightly modified form, and herein the structure comprises a casing including a rear plate portion 65 and a front or outer portion 66 with an upper portion 61 thereon, providing a housing for the operating mechanism. Ears 68 are provided on the rear plate portion having rivet holes 69 for securing the apparatus to the car end.

The rear and front portions 65 and 66 provide bearings for a shaft 19 which carries a chainworm H and a gear 12 thereon. The gear meshes with a pinion 13 fast on an operating shaft 14 which carries on its outer end the manually operated member, as the hand brake wheel'lli; and fast on this shaft 14 is also my improved ratchet wheel 16 which has gradually rounded I have illustrated restraining the projections 16' on its periphery and similar rounded depressions l8 between said projections.

The housing portion 81 is provided with a grease pocket 11 for supplying lubricant thru the bushing 18 to the inner end of the shaft I4; while at the outer end of said shaft the front portion 88 is provided with a suitable recess for receiving a grease containing member I8, as shown in Fig. 13, said member being circularand having an internal annular recess or pocket to have grease packed therein, and carries a bushing 8| the grease being supplied to the shaft thru registering openings 82 in said member and bushing. Said member 18 is provided with peripheral projections 84 engaging with recesses 85 in the housing to form a breech lock, and the member is held in locked position by means of a bolt 88 passing thru registering thus overcoming '88, and preventing wear by this pawl .01 the openings in the member and in lugs 81 on the.

housing. V

The brake operating and control mechanism is housed in the upper housing portion 81, whereon is provided a slantingly upwardlyextending casing or housing part 88 which is provided with a slideway 88 on its slanting side wall. The mechanism comprises a detent or pawl 88, being. substantially in the form of a shoe-like casting, best shown in Fig. 18, which is slidable on said slideway, in a direction tangentially to the ratchet wheel 18." Saiddetent contains a hardened steel roller 8I'for engaging in the depressions in the ratchet wheel 18, and provides the looking or holding pawl. The roller is confined against separation from the detent by the sides of the slideway andcasing part 88, and a grease pocket 82 is. provided for the .roller. This detent has side ribs 83'which areslidable in grooves 84 provided at thefisides of the slideway 88 in said casing part 88.-

The-'meansfo'r operating the slidable detent comprises an operating member or arm 88' in the housing, operated by an oscillatory lever-or handle bar 88 located outside of the housing. Said member 85-inc1udes an elongated bodyof metal from one end 81 of which extends a central projection or finger. 88 engaging in a recess 88 formed in the sliding detent. The intermediate body part of this member contains a transverse aperture I88 with an internal segmental recess I8I partly around the aperture, and a key inlet port I82 :leads to the recess. The end part of said member 85, opposite said end 87, terminates in a rounded pawl-I83, adapted to fit into the cons ructed inv accordance Y form of Fig. 11, for depressions 'lIi between .the ratchet teeth I8,

and thus functions as the retarding'pawl for release movement of the ratchet wheel 78.

' The operating'member 85 is mounted-ona shaft I85 which extends laterally from the pivot able detent in end of the operating-leverr88 and is preferably integral therewith-having bearing-in the side walls of the housing-part 88. This shaft I88 has a key I88 fixed thereon, .adapted to be inserted thru'the port I82 being movable freely in the recess I8I during-the, greater part of the oscillatory movement; of the, lever 88, until said lever reaches the abutments'l8'l and I88 formed by the ends of; said-recess; and will then move the a cam projection, or, lip 52',

the member'85. 'The -ilever is thus swingable thru the greater .part'pf itsar'c of nearly 188 degrees before swinging the member 85fwhich' will then become eifectivefor moving the holdin-g detent 88 into release position and the retarding pawl I 88 into operative position, as shown 'in Fig. 16, and alsofor releasing the retarding pawl and enabling the holding'detent to move I known constructions. This lever (8|, 88)- is i the extent desired. It may be 3 into its holding or wedging position, as shown in Fig. 14.

A spring H8 surrounds a pin III depending from the upper housing part 88 and is seated in a cup H2 provided on the upper end of the detent 88, thereby normally pressing said detent downwardly. The essential functio of this spring is to hold the retarding pawl I83 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 18 when said pawl is not in use, even when both pawls are in released position, as shown in Fig. 15; the spring the eifect of the weight of lever ratchet teeth I8.

This structure is easily dismantled. To re-' move the chain-worm or drum II, remove the locking rivet I I8 from iniront oi the drum shaft I8, then pull out said shaft and drop said worm with tl'e gear 12. 0 remove the brake operating parts from the housing, remove the bolt 88, turn the member I8 slightly to the left to release the breech lock, then pull out the shaft 14 with member 19 and the ratchet wheel and pinion. Next place the lever 88 below its on position," until the slidable detent 88 with its spring i I8 can be withdrawn from the grooved slideway; then turn the arm 95 with the re tarding pawl I88 thereon to line up the key port I82 with the key I88, and pullout the lever to withdraw its pivot shaft I from the housing. For reassembling the parts, the operation is substantially reversed. r v

By the use of a brake operating mechanism with vmy invention. and with any such form of constructionas disclosed herein, the'force of. stopping a-ispinning brake wheel in its brake-release rotation is taken up'i y the housing, rather than by the" pawl shaft as is donein the .prior and wellvancement in this art.

The operation of this improved brake operat-= ing mechanism is substantiallylasfollows: I

When the brakes are to be set, the operating thrown to the left, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5, 11 and 14, and .the hand brake wheel is rotated in a clockwise direction- The slidable holding pawl or detent will then be lifted against the weight of the operating lever 8| in the form of Fig. hand against the lever weight and the action of the spring H8 in the eachdepressionof theratchet brake has been set, the tendwheel. When the ency of the ratchet wheel to rotate-in acounter-clockwise or brake release direction will serve to confine'the hardened roller of the slidthe brakeman wishes to release, the brakes, he merelythrowh the operating lever (GI, 88) into the opposite position, to the right,-as shown in Figs. 4, '15 and 16, and the slidable detent will be retracted, asiliustrated; Then, bmexerting a downward vpressureon the position, in r the first shown will. engage and press the retarding pawl- 53 firmly into the depressions in the ratchet wheel; while in the sec- 0nd shown form the retarding v70- end of member 85'will be pressed firmly into such depressions on the ratchet wheel; and thus in eitherform this will serve to dampen and restrain the unwinding of the brake chain, to

and described form the pawl I83,and member is an important ad I wedging relation in the engaged I notch or depression in the ratchet wheel. When leverwhile j itm form of mechanism pawl I88 on the noted in this secto conform to and enter said depressions,

- said detent being mounted for bodily 95 are arranged so that with sufficient pressure on the lever 86 the ratchet wheel can be positively halted in its unwinding rotation toward the left, as seen in Fig. 16.

If the brakeman wishes vto permit the brakes to entirely unwind, he can merely oscillate the wheel and detent, since these'teeth or projecv tions on the wheel are gradually rounded, and the active part of the detent is a roller which thus rolls over said rounded teeth. This dis-- closed construction is ting cars; man must hold onto of particular value in spotthe moving car with one hand while he operates the brakes with the.

other; and hereby the operation for one hand is facilitated, as it is only necessary to throw the releasing lever into release .position and by then applying normal or proper pressure to said lever the brakes may be released to the extent of onlyone or two notches. For this purpose the second form is more positively efiective than the first described form. If the brakeman finds that he should apply more eiTective braking action, then he can readily throw the lever to the opposite position or holding position and take up one or more notches, thus readily effecting herewith the exact braking action desired.

This construction is simple and durable and as it can be well lubricated at the time of installation it will operate thru many years without further attention.

I claim: s

1. In brake control means, the combination of a housing having a slideway therein, a ratchet wheel having a series of shallow peripheral depressions thereby forming blunt, rounded projections, a detent having a contact portion shaped said detent being mounted for bodily sliding movement on the slideway of the housing at a tangent to the periphery of the ratchet wheel and adapted to be wedged into direct holding relation with the ratchet wheel, an oscillating lever exterior of the housing, and means within the housing and operated by said lever for actuating said detent.

2. In brake control means, the combination of a housing having a wall providing a slideway, a ratchet wheel having a series of shallow peripheral depressions thereby forming blunt, rounded projections, a detent having a contact portion shaped to conform to and enter said depressions, sliding movement on the slideway of the housing at a tangent to the periphery of the ratchet wheel and adapted to be wedged into direct holding relation with the ratchet wheel, an oscillating lever exterior of the housing, and means operated by said lever within the housing for positively moving said detent out of engagement with said ratchet wheel.

3. In brake control means, the 'combination of a housing having a slideway therein, a ratchet wheel having a series of shallow peripheral depressions thereby forming blunt, rounded proiections, a detent having a roller acting as a contact portion and being of a size to enter said depressions. said detent being mounted for bodsince in those operations the brake-.

a housing having a wall arranged and positioned to provide a slideway, a ratchet-wheel rotary in said housing and having a series of shallow peripheral depressions thereby forming blunt, rounded projections, a detent carrying a rotary contact element being of a size to enter said depressions and also adapted to roll over said projections, said detent being mounted for bodily sliding movement on the slideway at a tangent to the periphery of the ratchet wheel and-said element movable into direct holding relation with said wheel, an oscillating lever exterior of the 1 housing, and means within the housing'and operated by said lever for operating said detent.

5. In brake control means, the combination of a housing having a slideway therein and also a ratchet wheel, a holding detent mounted for straight line sliding movement on said slideway at a'tangent to the periphery of the ratchet wheel, said detent including a roller for engage-.

ment with the periphery of said wheel, finger means pivotally mounted inthe housing for engaging said sliding detent, and an operating lever outside of the housing for operating said finger means.

6. In a hand brake including a shaft having a member thereon whereby the shaft is operable manually, a ratchet wheel attached to the shaft to rotate therewith and having rounded projections on its periphery with corresponding spaces therebetween, a holdingdetent having a contact portion shaped to conform to and enter said spaces, means provided with a lever for operating said detent, and pawl means associated with said operating means and adapted to be pressed into said spaces between said projections by means of said lever, whereby to exert a selected retarding effect on the ratchet wheel by the regulated pressure on said lever.

7. In a hand brake, the combination with a shaft having a hand brake'wheel thereon, of a ratchet wheel attached to the shaft and having on its periphery a series of gradually rounded projections, a detent having. correspondingly shaped piece for contact with the spaces between said projections, means for operating said detent, a retarding pawl having a rounded portion for non-positive engagement with said periphery of the ratchet wheel, and means associated with said detent-operating-means for exerting a force on said retarding pawl tending to press it into the depressions between said peripheral projections. I

8. In brake control means, the combination of a ratchet wheel having blunt, rounded teeth, a slidable holding detent adapted to engage between said teeth, arm 'means for operating said detent and a lever for actuating said arm means, and a retarding pawl associated with and actuated by said arm means, ada ted to suecessively engage the teeth on said ratchet wheel while said arm and lever are retracted to disengage the detent from theteeth, whereby to retard thebrake-releasing movement or said wheel.

9. In brake control means, the combination of a ratchet wheel having blunt, rounded teeth, a sliding detent adapted to engage said ratchet within said wheel, an arm for operating said detent, and a retarding pawl adapted to successively enage the teeth on the ratchet wheel and being associated with and actuated by said arm when the arm is retracted to disengage the detent from the ratchet wheel and thereafter to be pressed by said arm into frictional non-positive engagement with the teeth of said wheel.

10. In brake control means, the combination of a ratchet wheel, a sliding detent adapted to engage said ratchet wheel for holding it, an arm for operating said detent, and a retarding pawl pivoted for free oscillation and'ad-apted to engage the ratchet wheel with a sliding action in both directions of movement of said wheel, said arm having a cam projection adapted to contact said pawl when the detent has been withdrawn from engagement with the ratchet wheel, whereby to press said pawl between successive teeth of the ratchet wheel.

11. In brake operating means in which there is included a shaft carrying a ratchet wheel thereon and also a housing within which said parts are mounted, the combination ofa detent arranged to slide on a wall of said housing in a line tangentially of said ratchet wheel, said detent having a recess, a member mounted on a shaft in said housing and including a finger engaging in said recess for positive movement of the detent, and an operating lever for actuating said member and finger.

12. In brake operating means in which there is included a shaft having a hand brake wheel and also a ratchet wheel thereon, provided with a housing in which said parts are mounted, the combination of a sliding detent arranged to move tangentially of said ratchet wheel, said detent comprising a sliding member having a recess, means mounted on a shaft in said housing and including a finger engaging in said recess, said shaft projecting outside of the housing and having ahead providing abutments at the two sides of the axis of said shaft, a lever on said head for operating said finger, and a retarding pawl housing adapted to be moved into engagement with said ratchet wheel by cam means on said finger-equipped means when the parts have been moved to detent-released position.

13. In brake operating means, the combina-' tion of a housing having a wall providing aslideway, a ratchet wheel having blunt, rounded teeth on its periphery, a detent slidable on the slideway in a direction tangentially of the ratchet wheel and including a contact piece adapted to be wedged into holding relation between said teeth, a shaft carrying a member adapted to oscillate in the housing, finger means on said member engaging in a recess provided in said detent for positively releasing the detent from the ratch-,

' ratchet wheel and having a contact piece shaped gradually rounded teeth on its periphery, a detent slidable in said housing tangentially to the to conform to the spaces between said teeth and movable into holding relation therein, an arm and a shaft for pivotally mounting the arm in the housing, finger means on the arm to engage the detent for positively releasing it from the ratchet wheel, a lever on said shaft outside of the housing for operating said arm, and pawl means provided on said arm adapted to successively engage the teeth when the lever and the detent are retracted, whereby to retard the ratchet wheel in its brake-releasing movement. 1

15. The subject matter'set forth in claim 14, wherein the arm is oblong in shape and has the finger means and the pawl means formed integral on its two opposite ends.

'16. The subject matter set forth in claim 14,

which is further provided with spring means associated with the detent to act on the detent and the arm, so as to retain the retarding pawl out of engagementwith the ratchet wheel to prevent wear of the ratchet teeth while said lever is in its brake-releasing inuse.

- 17. In brake control means, the combination vof a housing containing a ratchet wheel having on its periphery a series of gradually rounded teeth and similar depressions therebetween, a detent in the housing having a correspondingly shaped contact piece for engaging in said depressions and positively holding the ratchet wheel, a shaft and a member thereon adapted to oscillate in the housing, a lever outside of the housing for operating said shaft and member, means on said member for engaging and operating the detent, and a rounded portion on the end of said member adapted to serve as a retarding pawl and be engaged in said depressions, whereby to exert a regulated retarding effect on said wheel and also a full stop thereof by the sure on said lever.

18. The subject matter set forth in claim 17, wherein said shaft is integral with said lever and serves. as the pivot means for the lever and the member in the housing.

19. The subject matter set forth, in claim 17, which is further provided with a. spring associated with the detent, for retaining the retarding pawl out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel and prevent wear of said teeth while the lever is in its brake-releasing-position and the pawl is not in use.

' AUGUSTUS F. KLASING.

position and said pawl is not regulated pres-. 

